Comic books and graphic novels have been providing the fodder for a steady and high-quality stream of films for decades now. As Gerard Butler and scores of other leather-Speedo-wearing Spartans cut a bloody swathe to big screen in the adaptation of Frank Miller's acclaimed graphic novel '300,' we count down the 20 best flicks based on comics.

More Cool Stuff

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• AIM Q&A with Gerard Butler
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• Discuss: What are your fave flicks based on comics?

20. 'Constantine'

Source Material: DC Comics series 'Hellblazer'
Why We Love It: Comics fans raised hell (the comic hero was Brit and blonde, Keanu Reeves is a Yank and brunette, just to start), but we still loved it thanks to Reeves, Rachel Weisz, Tilda Swinton's androgynous Gabriel and Peter Stormare's deliciously deranged Satan.

19. 'Dick Tracy'

Source Material: Syndicated comic strip (1931-1977)
Why We Love It: Using a palette of seven colors, director/star Warren Beatty creates a stylish spectacle in which the cartoonish look, grotesque villains and a "Breathless" Madonna (channeling Marilyn Monroe) prove even more arresting than the detective himself.

18. 'Mystery Men'

Source Material: 'The Flaming Carrot' comics
Why We Love It: This pleasantly wry flick delivers a humorous send-up of the quintessential superhero. Case in point: Ben Stiller stars as Mr. Furious, a do-gooder whose defining power is the ability to get really, really ridiculously angry. And make us laugh.

17. 'American Splendor'

Source Material: Harvey Pekar's autobiographical comic books
Why We Love It: As unlikely "hero" Pekar, the outstanding Paul Giamatti makes us care about a guy who isn't particularly likable or attractive. His life may seem small, but when it comes to celebrating what makes us human, this movie is epic.

16. 'Hulk'

Source Material: Marvel Comics series by Stan Lee
Why We Love It: Despite the ridiculous ending in which Nick Nolte turns into a humanized form of the ocean (we think), Ang Lee delivers a thinking man's comic-book flick that deftly depicts a normal guy at war with the raging superhero inside.

15. 'V for Vendetta'

Source Material: Graphic novel by Alan Moore and David Lloyd
Why We Love It: Creator Moore may have disowned it, but we were won over by its sharp visual style and searing political overtones, not to mention Natalie Portman's valiant 'do. The future may be bleak, but at least it looks cool.

14. 'Road to Perdition'

Source Material: Graphic novel by Max Allan Collins (based on a manga, 'Lone Wolf and Cub')
Why We Love It: Tom Hanks is a gangster out to avenge the death of his family, Paul Newman is an Irish mob patriarch, Daniel Craig is his unstable son and Jude Law is a chubby "journalist." What's not to love?

13. 'Blade II'

Source Material: Marvel Comics series
Why We Love It: In Guillermo del Toro's ('Mimic,' the award-nominated 'Pan's Labyrinth') dark, smart and sexy second installment of the vampire-hunter trilogy, Blade (Wesley Snipes) has to team up with his arch-enemies to fight vampires so bloodthirsty they attack other vamps. Ouch.

12. 'Ghost World'

Source Material: Graphic novel by Daniel Clowes
Why We Love It: Terry Zwigoff perfectly captured Clowes' idiosyncratic humor in bringing to life Enid (Thora Birch) and Rebecca (Scarlett Johansson), outcasts who escape boredom by toying with loner Steve Buscemi (who one of them then finds strangely attractive).

11. 'Hellboy'

Source Material: Dark Horse comic strip
Why We Love It: This one had the potential to be god-awful: A starless affair (no offense, Ron Perlman) with Satan's spawn as an action hero? But director Guillermo del Toro made it fantastically fun. We very much look forward to returning to 'Hell' with the 2008 sequel.

10. 'Batman'

Source Material: Frank Miller's 'Batman: The Dark Knight Returns'
Why We Love It: Tim Burton obliterates the campy TV show with a darkly gleaming Gotham, a perfectly cast Joker (Jack Nicholson), and a Batman (Michael Keaton) who makes brooding look badass. Who knew 'Mr. Mom' could be sexy?

9. Tie: 'Superman II' & 'Superman Returns'

Source Material: DC Comics series created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Schuster
Why We Love It: Supes' epic battle with three Kryptonian baddies made 'II' a sequel to remember. And Bryan Singer's stylish, underrated 'Returns' helped us forget about the oh-so-unfortunate 'Superman IV' -- almost.

8. 'X-Men'

Source Material: Marvel Comics series by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
Why We Love It: Bryan Singer surprised everyone with how slick and sophisticated he could make Marvel's mutant branch in their big-screen debut. Perhaps it's because Singer himself is a mutant: The 41-year-old doesn't look a day over 21.

7. 'Spider-Man'

Source Material: Marvel Comics series by Stan Lee and Stephen Ditko
Why We Love It: It's got action and style, but best of all, it's got character: Never has a superhero been so believably nerdy, making his transformation to web-slinger -- and that sizzling upside-down kiss -- even more thrilling to watch. Go, geeks!

6. 'A History of Violence'

Source Material: Graphic novel by John Wagner
Why We Love It: David Cronenberg's visceral, disturbing and, yes, violent tale of suburban paradise lost is an all-too-realistic reminder that the past never dies. And that married folk (Viggo Mortensen and Maria Bello) still like to get freaky in the bedroom.

5. 'Superman: The Movie'

Source Material: DC Comics series
Why We Love It: Christopher Reeve flies high in the original epic superhero movie, as both the seemingly naive Clark Kent and the straight-arrow man in the red cape. And Marlon Brando still holds the record for highest-paid disembodied voice. Super stuff.

4. 'X2: X-Men United'

Source Material: X-Men graphic novel 'God Loves, Man Kills'
Why We Love It: Bryan Singer was just warming up with the first 'X-Men.' The sequel, in which the mutants team up against a human foe, blurs the lines of good and evil, normal and abnormal. It's even stronger than the original. (Just like a mutant.)

3. 'Spider-Man 2'

Source Material: Marvel Comics series by Stan Lee
Why We Love It: Somehow Sam Raimi, Tobey Maguire and company one-upped themselves in following up their 2002 mega-hit. With all exposition out of the way, they focused more on action and, um, pure satisfaction. They were rewarded with a $780 million worldwide gross.

2. 'Batman Begins'

Source Material: Bob Kane's DC Comics series, Frank Miller's 'Batman: Year One'
Why We Love It: Christopher Nolan's gritty, naturalistic origin story redefined not only a franchise (be gone, Bat nipples!) but also the entire comic-book-movie genre. With a spot-on Christian Bale as Batman, this flick puts the dark in Dark Knight.

1. 'Sin City'

Source Material: Graphic novel by Frank Miller
Why We Love It: Robert Rodriguez's groundbreaking film combines live action and CG backgrounds to create a breathtaking world unlike one ever beheld on screen. Filled with morally grey characters inhabiting a mostly black-and-white universe, this is one 'Sin' worth indulging.

Celeb Crushes

If you could date date one Hollywood celebrity, who would it be? We asked our editors this question and came up with a list that includes obvious choices such as Sienna Miller and George Clooney and more offbeat picks such as Sarah Silverman.
See our crushes

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